TRIBOLOGICAL STABILITY OF METALLIC MATERIALS AT ELEVATED-TEMPERATURES

The sliding abrasion wear rates of metallic materials against flint, measured between 25 and 1050-degrees-C under an argon atmosphere, are shown and discussed. Above 550-degrees-C, wear is governed mainly by the properties of the metal matrix and can be correlated with its resistance to plastic deformation. Thus, the bot hardness and work hardening capability affect the wear rate under stationary conditions. Instabilities occur when dynamic recrystallization appears within the metal matrix, bringing about a total loss of its work hardening capability. Hard phases have only a small effect on the tribological behaviour under stationary and non-stationary conditions.